Using My Emotional Intelligence (EQ) To Find My Niche In Life

Some now call it Emotional Intelligence or EQ instead of woman's intuition. That funny feeling in your gut when you know something just isn't right. The thoughts or visions of seeing yourself doing what you love and succeeding at it. Often, plunging into that next business or life decision without hard physical evidence that its the right thing to do. Yet, you proceed on with your plans….or do you?

It has been a six year journey in finding my EQ in my business decisions. Emotional Intelligence has been defined as the silent partner of rational intelligence -- equal in importance, yet frequently overlooked and rarely schooled or tested. Its thought to be one of the most powerful tools women have in making life changing decisions. It definitely changed my life when I realized the impact of not following my first instinct.

For so long I chose not to listen to my inner spirit. I always thought I would not be taken seriously if I didn't have proof I could succeed. Now I know it is God speaking to me, telling me just what I need to do to have the desires of my heart. Finding my niche could have been as simple as listening to my heart.

Have you ever felt within your gut that a decision you were about to make was wrong, but you went with it anyway because you were advised by a friend it was a great decision? Then come to find out your first instinct was right and the decision you made turned out to be the wrong one for you. A couple years ago, I was convinced I was on the right track and operating the home-based business a friend turned me on too. She had been doing this business for a couple of years and loved it. She was amongst many woman all over the country succeeding at this business. The company itself had been around for 30 years and is still a great force in the cosmetic industry. There was the potential for me to be with this company for a long time and I had been looking for years for a home business. I wanted to stay home with my daughters, who are now ages 6 and 3, and contribute to the families finances. There was just a few things about this business which concerned me, I knew absolutely nothing about selling products, let alone did I wear much make-up, and to tell you the truth I really wanted my own company. Something inside said "this is not for you". Yet, I paid the money for the kit and went ahead with it anyway. I wanted so bad for this to be the opportunity I was looking for. The concerns I had about succeeding in this business would just go away. "I could just ride on the coat tails of the other successful women in this business, they'll show me the ropes.", I thought. With some training and my first class under my belt I felt good about selling the product. Really, the product pretty much sold itself, but was I really enjoying it. Not really, I saw this opportunity as a means to get me "back home". Soon, I realized in order to get where I wanted to go in the company, I would have to invest more money into more products (mind you there's still products sitting on my shelf) and I needed to start recruiting more people to achieve my goal. I was not willing to invest more money into inventory I could not sell and the thought of having to recruit others to sell the product too, just didn't set well with me. I knew I had to get out before I disappointed not only myself, but others who may follow me. So I sold back the products, put up my "going out of business" sign, and commenced once again on my journey to find my true place. My niche.

By this time, I had tried about 3 other businesses looking for that one thing I could succeed at. Not realizing all along I had been doing what I love to do; writing. I had written a book for my oldest daughter and a few poems, hoping one day to get the book published. Getting a book published, that's a whole other story. We won't get into that now. Writing was something I did for my daughters and never thought much more of it. I read them the stories and the poems, never thought of it as a business.

I had been searching for a home business so long that I started writing things down every step of the way. I attended home business seminars in hopes I would find that perfect business just for me. Not realizing writing was the talent God had given me to use in my own home business, I discovered a site on the internet selling booklets. Then, the light came on. I had been gathering information for years on home business start-ups, taxes, business plans. Before I knew it, I had three booklets written, bound, and ready to present to my future customers. As I researched more, I found many opportunities for writers I didn't know existed. This was something I did naturally and truly enjoyed. It wasn't something I thought I could make a career of. I was so busy looking outside for my opportunity to start a home business, I totally ignored what was already within me to succeed. When times are slow and there are those times, I still feel great satisfaction in the work I'm doing. No one could ask for more than that.

I think most of us have been in a situation like this. I truly believe those gut feelings are Gods way of speaking truth into our lives. Call it what you want emotional intelligence or women's intuition. When we choose to follow what we know within our hearts is right, our road becomes paved with successful events. Especially when we choose to operate within the talents already within us.

Now, I can say I'm a freelance writer for a few on-line magazines and home business sites. I founded and created, Mommy's@Work a home business resource site for work-at-home moms and dads. One of my goals is to have the best home business resource place for parents to help them succeed in their own home businesses using their own talents and abilities. I enjoy what I do and I know I'll stick with it. Most of all, I'm sure I have found my niche and I listen to my inner spirit who, by the way, makes a great business partner.